A self-help blog from Molly Merson, Berkeley Therapist. Informed by psychoanalytic, intersubjective, social justice, and relational theories about human experiences, relationships, and the ways we move through the world. Topics include racism, depression, eating disorders, body image, growing up, anxiety, inner critic, and grief and loss. Reading this blog does not imply a therapeutic relationship with me.

Shit gets hard.

I don't think words can truly express what it feels like when shit gets hard. Sometimes it comes and goes, and sometimes it lingers on. This is for you to read when you're not feeling okay.

A few things first:

Please eat, right now, if you haven't in the last few hours.Please drink water.Have a treat.Find something snuggly to wear or get under the covers (if you're not there already).

Thank you. I know those were probably really hard to do. If you need to stop there, that's okay.

If you want to keep reading, here are some important things to remember:

You are worth loving.

You are enough.

Take your time.

(It's okay to wait.)

Your feelings are not your fault.

Some things to try, if you feel like taking action:

Text a friend to say hi.

Ask for a hug.

Snuggle your pet or something soft.

Draw on yourself with a marker.

Tear out pictures you like from books and magazines.

Please remember:

You are brave.

You are very, very brave.

You can make it through this. I believe in you.

(If you are at your limit, and need to talk to someone, call 1-800-273-8255 or your therapist immediately.)

If you like, here's a hand-drawn download of some of these sayings for you to color in, cut out, and put around your room. I made this by hand, zine-style, and scanned it in. Feel free to do whatever you want with it. You could color it in, or get some aggression out by crumpling, ripping, or changing the words around. Feel free to make your own!

Some phrases to color in and put around your room, in your wallet, wherever you will see them...